Coupling device.



S. G. BETTS & A. BOUGHBR.

COUPLING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 26, 1912.

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COLUMBIA PLANOURAPH 00.. WASHINGTON. D. c.

S. G. BETTS & A. BOUGHER.

COUPLING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 26, 1912.

VIII/III! COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0., WASHINGTON. D. c.

i I I L Patented Oct. 15, 1912.

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INVENTORS 4%.

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SOLOMON C. IBETTS, 0F MAUMEE, OHIO, AND AMOS BOUCI-IER, OF SGOT'IVILLE,MICHIGAN.

COUPLING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 15,1912u To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, SOLOMON C. Bn'rrs, of Maumee, in the county ofLucas and State of Ohio and Arms BOUOHER, of Scottville, in the countyof Mason and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Coupling Devices; and we do hereby declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such aswill enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make anduse the same.

This invention relates toimprovements in coupling devices and moreparticularlyto such as are adapted for use as train plpe couplings,oneobject of the invention being to construct the devices in such mannerthat sections thereof carried by two cars will automatically connect thetrain pipes when the cars are brought together in coupling.

A further object is to so construct the coupling devices and mount themon the car in such manner that they will readily adapt themselves to thevibrations of the car when running and prevent accidental uncoupling ofthe train pipes.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certainnovel features of construction and combinations of parts as hereinafterset forth and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation showing theapplication of our improvements. Fig 2 is a plan view. Fig. 3 is atransverse section on the line w-m of Fig. 1. Fig. at is-a view showingthe jointed pipe construction. Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the liney-y of Fig. 1, and Fig. 6 is a detail view of one of the yokes 25.

1 represents a frame comprising plates 23 spaced apart and secured tothe sill of a car by means of bolts 4 and brace rods 5. A block 6 isswiveled between the plates 23 of the frame and provided with a verticalelongated slot 7 through which a coupling bar 8 freely passes,saidcoupling bar be ing provided throughout a portion of its length with aduct 9, the forward end of which communicates with a lateral outlet 10normally closed (when the coupling is not in use) by means of a tubularvalve 11 which is pressed against its seat by a spring 12, this valvebeing made of sufficient length to project beyond the inner side face ofthe coupling bar when it is closed.

We have above referred to a single duct in the coupling bar and this issufficient for the air brake pipe connection when the devices areused onfreight cars, but when our improvements are to be applied to passengercars which are heated by steam, it is desirable to provide a second duct13 inthe coupling bar and a valve 14 (the same in construction as thevalve 11, above described) will be provided for this duct, thusproviding coupling means for the steam pipes as well as for the brakepipes. In order to insure air tight and steam tight connections betweenthe valves on two coupling bars, said valves are surrounded by yieldinggaskets 15 which are secured to the inner faces of said bars. 7

The forward end of each coupling bar has a general conical or taperingshape and this free end of one coupling bar will engage the beveledinner faces of a guard 16 secured to the other coupling bar and hencewhen two cars are brought together, as in coupling, the two couplingbars will be guided by the guards 16 and the valves of one coupling barwill engage and depress the valves of the other coupling bar and thevalves of both coupling bars will be thus automatically opened and thetrain pipes connected with the respective coupling bars automaticallycoupled together.

The guard above referred to may be made in a single casting and securedby bolts to the coupling bar or it may be cast integral with the latter.

Each coupling bar projects an appreciable distance rearwardly from theframe 1 and is capable of longitudinal and also vertical movements inthe elongated slot 7 of the pivoted block 6. In order to yieldinglysustain the coupling bar in an approximately horizontal position, aspring 17 is secured at one end to the block 6 and at its other endbears against the under face of the coupling bar forwardly of saidblock.

A spring 18 is secured at one end to the rear end of the coupling barand at its other end, said spring is secured to the under frame of thecar. This spring tends to pull the coupling bar rearwardly but it isopposed in such action by springs 1919 secured at their rear ends to therear portion of the coupling bar and at their forward ends to respectivesides of the swiveled bar 6. Longitudinal movement in a forward oroutward direction, of the coupling bar is limited by means of a collar20 adjustably secured to said coupling bar by means-of a set screw 21and adapted to engage the rear face of the swiveled block 6.

From the construction and arrangement of parts above described, it isapparent that the coupling bar can swing horizontally by reason of itspassing through the swiveled block 6 and it will also be seen that saidcoupling bar can have yielding vertical and longitudinal movementsthrough the elongated slot of said swiveled block, and thus the couplingbar can accommodate itself to the vibrations to which it is subjectedand the accidental uncoupling of two coupling bars will be obviated.

The train pipes 22 are connected with the ducts 9-13 in the coupling barby means of flexible pipes, each comprising a plurality of short pipesections 23 loosely connected together by means of swivel couplings 24L,said couplings being so disposed relatively to each other that theflexible pipe as a whole can move in all directions and thus accommodateitself to the movements or vibrations of the coupling bar and the car.The two parts of each swivel coupling are connected together by means ofa yoke 25 provided at one end with a hook or pro jection 26 to engageone coupling part and provided at the other end with a set screw 27 toengage the other coupling partand thus the two coupling parts can beconnected together with suiiicient rigidity but without interfering withtheir free relative movements and by the use of the set-screws 27, theconnection between the parts of the swivel-couplings can be adjusted forwear.

In order to compensate for wear and to insure the intimate connection oftwo coupling-bars, the guards 16 are provided with set screws 28 whichpass through their outer walls, the inner end of the set screws in theguard on one coupling bar being adapted to engage the other couplingbar, and thus insure the intimate engagement of the two coupling-barsand the proper connection of the ducts thereof.

Various slight changes might be made in the details of construction ofour invention without departing from the spirit thereof or limiting itsscope and hence we do not wish to restrict ourselves to the precisedetails herein set fortln o r Having fully described our invention whatwe claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is:

1; In coupling devices for train pipes, the combination with a swiveledblock and means for supporting same on a car, said swiveled blockprovided with an elongated opening, of a coupling bar freely movablethrough said elongated slotof the swiveled block and provided with aduct and with a valve at the forward end of said duct, a spring attachedto said coupling bar and tending to move the same rearwardly, springsattached to the coupling bar and to the swiveled block and tending to'move the coupling bar forwardly, and means for limiting the forwardmovement of said coupling bar.

2. In coupling devices for train pipes, the:

combination with a frame to be secured to a car, a block mounted in saidframe and provided with vertical pivots, said block having a verticalelongated slot, of a coupling bar passing through the slotted block andprovided with a valved duct, a spring secured to said block and bearingagainst the under face of the coupling bar, springs tending to move thecoupling bar forwardly, and a spring tending to move the coupling barrearwardly. V

3. In coupling devices for train pipes, the combination with a couplingbar and means for supporting the same, said coupling bar having a ductprovided at its forward end with a lateral valved outlet, of .a guardsecured to the coupling bar rearwardly of said valved outlet and havingbeveledinner faces to direct the forward end of another coupling barinto coupling relation, and a set screw passing through the outer wallof said guard.

4;. In coupling devices for train pipes, the comblnation with a train ppe, a coupllng bar and means for yieldingly supporting the latter, saidcoupling bar having a duct provided at its forward end with a lateralvalved outlet, of a flexible pipe connection between the train pipe andthe duct in the coupling bar, said pipe connection comprising aplurality of pipe sections connected together by swivel-couplings, ayoke connecting the parts of each swivel coupling, and a set screwpassing through one end of each'yoke and engaging the adjacent part ofthe swivel-coupling.

5. In coupling devices for train pipes, the In testimony whereof, Wehave signed this combination With a train pipe, a coupling specificationin the presence of two subscribbar and means for yielclingly supportingthe ing Witnesses. latter, said coupling bar having a duct provided atits forward end With a lateral valved outlet, of a flexible pipeconnection SOLOMON O. BETTS. AMOS BOUCHER.

between the train pipe and the duct in the Witnesses: coupling bar, saidpipe connection compris- H. P. WILOOX, ing a plurality of pipe sectionsconnected to- C. P. BIGBY, gether by swivel-couplings, and a yoke con-K. E. LozoN,

necting the parts of each swivel-coupling. ROBERT J. QUAIL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G.

